June 12, 2012

U.S., India share long-term interests

My article - co-authored with Daniel Kliman - appeared in Politico on June 12, 2012. An excerpt is included below.

On democracy and human rights, too, India is proving a
more willing partner than some of its high-profile positions might
suggest. It has supported and constructively engaged the democratically
elected leaders of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Burma, Nepal and the Maldives.
India’s preferred methods — building domestic capacity and aiding
political transitions — mesh well with U.S. efforts for democracy
promotion.

Beyond its immediate neighborhood, India recently cast its vote with
the U.S. — and against China and Russia — on Syria at the U.N. Human
Rights Council.

Personal ties are also key to shaping the relationship.
Indian-Americans are the most affluent U.S. ethnic group — and
increasingly active in local, national and international politics. It’s
largely thanks to their example that the U.S. has retained its
overwhelming popularity in India — even as anti-American sentiment has
peaked in other countries.

Opinion surveys also indicate that India is one of the few countries
whose people still view the United States as the greatest land of
opportunity. Polls show that the U.S. public’s opinion of India is also
favorable — positive views of India recorded a new high this year.

The fundamentals of the U.S.-India relationship are still as sound as
before Bill Clinton traveled to India in 2000 or George W. Bush in
2006. These landmark visits lifted relations to new heights.
Policymakers in both countries should be wary about letting
short-term setbacks color long-term ties. Given their combined weight in
the international system and their shared values, the United States and
India are bound to decisively shape the 21st century.